Archive for the ‘Company News’ Category
April 12, 2021
PKL Services, Inc. (PKL) and Flex Air, two San Diego-based aerospace companies, recently submitted a joint proposal seeking FAA grant funding to provide innovative solutions to offset projected pilot shortages and a lack of readily accessible pilot training within the aviation industry. The PKL / Flex Air proposal solves these critical aviation workforce development issues for a potentially unlimited number of high school students while offering ongoing professional development for teachers. We accomplish these tasks through our mutually supportive Teacher to Pilot and Virtual Aerodrome Lab programs executed by a proven, mature, ISO 9001-2015 certified and Part 61 certificated aerospace and defense industry team.
Flex Air’s Teacher to Pilot program provides affordable Private Pilot License or Certificated Flight Instructor training to high school educators along with guaranteed access to low-cost financing through Income Share Agreements (ISAs).
Paul Wynns, Flex Air’s CEO, stated “Affordability is a critical limiting factor in the delivery of flight training for educators, especially to minority populations who disproportionately lack access to traditional loans, high credit scores, or loan co-signers. We are the only industry team offering ISAs for aviation training.”
Furthermore, Mr. Wynns believes the FAA’s Workforce Development mission of bringing training to urban, suburban, and rural populations is a perfect match for Flex Air’s ethos. “We focus on superior outcomes for student pilots as recognized by an ‘Aviation Owners and Pilots Association Distinguished Flight School’ Award in 2019. Our founding vision emphasizes community, affordability, and a holistic approach that provides career-long mentorship, more than just flight hours and ratings.” All fight training will be delivered using Flex Air’s award-winning Part 61 programming as described at www.goflexair.com.
PKL’s Virtual Aerodrome Lab (VAL) uses on demand immersive simulation technology to reach a potentially unlimited audience of high school students regardless of geographical location. The VAL uses medium-fidelity virtual simulation for various positions correlated in the airfield environment with the following cutting-edge attributes:
- Gamified Computer Based Training (G-CBT) modalities
- Emergency drills simulations such as weather, safety, ground traffic, or pre-/post flight discrepancies
- A distributed system connecting multiple stations over a shared network
The VAL curriculum, anchored on authoritative FAA manuals and handbooks, incorporates these four modules: (1) Basic Aircraft Systems Overview; (2) Pre-flight Operations; (3) Takeoff, Landing, Go-Arounds; and (4) Post-flight Operations.
PKL’s Training Manager, Ms. Kim Robling, is excited to reach diverse high school populations and sees great potential in teaming with Flex Air. “PKL provides custom-built training programs to universities, government agencies, corporations, and the military via OmniSpec® – our registered Training System – which uses modern technologies like Learning Management Systems (LMS), gamified computer-based training (G-CBT), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). We can deliver an engaging, life-like experience for these emerging aerospace professionals.” To learn more about OmniSpec see our website link at www.pklservices.com/capabilities/omnispec.
Ms. Robling and Mr. Wynns were unanimous in their commitment to the FAA’s Workforce Development objectives: “Team PKL /Flex Air will provide award-winning flight training and guaranteed ISA financing to high school educators who will attain Private Pilot or Certificated Flight Instructor ratings depending on their existing flight experience. These educators, armed with real-world flight experience, will return to their classrooms to employ our team’s Virtual Aerodrome Lab (VAL) to prepare and inspire students for eventual aviation careers. Our proven virtual training system expertise will be leveraged to rapidly create an engaging, gamified, mobile-enabled aviation training environment that can be accessed by any high schooler with access to a broadband connection anywhere in the country.”
Concerning Grant timelines, the FAA solicitation document projects to announce winners in the 3rd Quarter, and allocate funding in the 4th Quarter, of 2021.
To see a previous collaborative product by Team PKL / Flex Air, entitled “The Pre-Flight Challenge,” visit https://goflexair.com/preflightchallenge. This product created virtual renderings of an authentic airfield environment and replicated a point-to-point pre-flight inspection checklist procedure, in both tutorial and assessment modes, with real-time progress feedback.
PKL Services, Inc. was established in 2003, is headquartered in Poway, CA, and provides both U.S. and Allied Military Services with experienced and qualified personnel to execute aerospace maintenance, training, and logistics management services.
Flex Air Aviation was established in 2016, and has flight schools in Manhattan, KS, San Diego, CA, & Amarillo, TX. Recognized in 2019 as an AOPA Distinguished Flight School, Flex Air provides Career and Adventure pilot training as well as Certified Instructor Pilot Training with the best flight training experts.
February 28, 2017
PKL Services, Inc. is performing as a subcontractor with AVMAC, LLC who was recently awarded a firm fixed price Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set aside contract (number M6700117P0002) on 15 February 2017 to perform MV-22 Aircraft Maintenance services for VMMT-204 located at MCAS New River, NC. This contract has a total performance period of one year with full performance beginning 27 February 2017.
AVMAC and PKL will provide Scheduled and Unscheduled Organizational Level Aircraft Maintenance Support Services to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204 (VMMT-204), at MCAS New River, NC. This work will be performed by 70 skilled and qualified artisans of which 22 will be PKL employees. The scope of the contract encompasses aircraft maintenance functions of Phase, Corrosion Control, Maintenance Control, and Aircraft “0” Level Maintenance support. The VMMT-204 mission is to train aircrew on the MV-22B aircraft and the AVMAC/PKL Team’s most important objective is to provide safe, flyable aircraft to execute the unit’s daily flight schedule.
PKL Services, Inc. was established in 2003, is headquartered in Poway, CA, and provides both U.S. and Allied Military Services with experienced and qualified personnel to execute aerospace maintenance, training, and logistics management services.
September 14, 2016
PKL Services, Inc. has been awarded an $11,908,688 modification to exercise an option on a previously awarded contract for Republic of Singapore aircraft maintenance and operation services.
Work will be performed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and is expected to be complete by Sept. 30, 2017. This contract is 100 percent foreign military sales to the Republic of Singapore. The 366th Contracting Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is the contracting activity.
This is the fourth option year on the five year sole source contract. Work is performed by approximately 127 employees primarily at Mountain Home Air Force Base Idaho with additional support to a variety of deployment locations around and outside the United States.
August 25, 2016
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that PKL Services, Inc. has been designated as a Chamber Honor Roll business member. As a Chamber-sponsored effort to incentivize and motivate the hiring of veterans, the Chamber is proud to include PKL in its list of local firms that are proactively hiring our nation’s heroes.
“As one of the largest military regions in the county, we have an immense amount of talent and expertise in our veteran community. Without businesses like PKL Services and the leadership of Terry G. Robling setting the bar for veteran engagement, our work would be far more challenging,” said Jerry Sanders, President & CEO of the Chamber. “Our Honor Roll businesses are telling an important story. It’s the story of what happens when an employer is savvy enough to appreciate the unique skillset and capability a veteran brings to their enterprise and the community at large.”
Honor roll designees are Chamber of Commerce members that have hired a veteran that has remained employed for 90 days or longer. PKL was awarded the Elite Honor Roll status for maintaining a 10 percent veteran presence in their total employee numbers.
To date, PKL boasts over 90% of our workforce as veteran employees and we are proud to exemplify the value of veteran hiring in San Diego.
The Honor Roll program was launched in September 2015 as a Chamber imitative to expand business engagement in the veteran community and incentivize increased veteran hiring. The Chamber’s Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs Council pioneered the effort and continues to facilitate veteran hiring policies and guide the business voice in military issues at the local level. For additional information about the initiative, please contact Sophie Barnhorst at (619) 544-1314 or sbarnhorst@sdchamber.org
February 25, 2016
PKL CEO, Terry Robling, and Executive Vice President, Paul Callan, recently participated in the 2016 Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Best Practices Exchange. The event, sponsored by the US Commercial Services, gathered delegates from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand, and several US aerospace firms such as PKL, in order to expose the LMI countries to aviation expertise and state-of-the-art support concepts.
Terry and Paul were hand-selected by the US Commercial Services planners to present a seminar entitled: ‘Managing Change: Getting from here to there in an Aviation Project.’ During the follow-on panel discussion and separate one-on-one meetings, Terry and Paul explained PKL’s unique maintenance upgrade training program and PKL’s elite leadership development program.
May 6, 2015
INNOVAIR, LLC, a registered Joint Venture between AVMAC, LLC (the Managing 8(a) Partner) and PKL Services, Inc. was recently awarded a firm fixed price 8(a) contract (number GS08Q15BPC0006) to perform VMFAT-101 Aircraft Maintenance services located at MCAS Miramar, CA. The General Services Administration (GSA) Denver, CO issued and will manage this contract which has a total performance period of one base year and four one-year option years with full performance beginning 1 June 2015.
INNOVAIR (AVMAC & PKL) will provide Scheduled and Unscheduled Organizational Level Aircraft Maintenance Support Services to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101 (VMFAT-101), at MCAS Miramar, CA. This work will be performed by skilled and qualified INNOVAIR artisans that include PKL employees. The scope of the contract encompasses aircraft maintenance functions of Phase, Corrosion Control, Logs and Records Clerks, Maintenance Control, Supply and Aircraft “O” Level Maintenance support. The VMFAT-101 mission is to train aircrew on the F/A-18 A/B/C/D aircraft and INNOVAIR’s most important objective is to provide safe, flyable aircraft to execute the unit’s daily flight schedule.
PKL CEO, LtGen Terry G. Robling (USMC Ret.) announced the award, saying “PKL is honored to team with our INNOVAIR partner, AVMAC LLC, to provide exceptional maintenance support to the US Marine Corps’ largest training squadron. As a recent prime contractor on this very contract, PKL offers our partner and our customer superior past performance, technical expertise, and broad knowledge of VMFAT-101’s mission. Our primary objective is to help the squadron and its parent Marine Aircraft Group and Marine Aircraft Wing train combat-ready aircrews in the most effective and efficient way possible.”
PKL is a leading global aerospace services company providing our customers innovative maintenance, training, and leadership solutions to governments worldwide.
April 29, 2015
Since joining PKL in early 2015, LtGen Terry Robling (USMC Ret.) has been busy learning the various facets of PKL and what makes the company successful. And while there are certainly challenges ahead and changes to the current contract landscape, Terry is optimistic about PKL’s future and its ability to distinguish itself from competitors.
In a recent interview with “Second Line of Defense”, Terry was asked about PKL’s future, its strategy, and how PKL can expand in the future. A key takeway from his message was Terry’s conviction that PKL works to make our customers organically capable and self-sustaining; not dependent on PKL. PKL has continuously strived to provide exceptional service to our contracts but to do so in the interests of allowing customers to become trained and capable of maintaining their own needs. We work to empower our customers.
Of course, this seems counterintuitive to a company’s business mission. But PKL has succeeded in this way and will continue to grow our business based on this same foundation, trusting that our customers will continue to value our business model and willingly seek our partnership.
To foster this value-based business model, PKL relies on its team of dedicated and talented people who continue to elevate PKL’s reputation. PKL has established an ethos and company mentality centered around the theme of “Row True”.
As Terry describes this ethos, “First, every one of us has our own hands on an oar, and thus, we must daily be accountable for our attitude, behaviors, and actions. Personal discipline and personal accountability. Second, we man the boat together. We are all rowing together, in unison and coherence, toward a shared vision and towards a distant end state. This is Teamwork. By recruiting and building a talent strategy around our ethos of Row True, we cultivate the leaders who aspire to excellence, meaning, and purpose… We are basing our future on this bet; that by building self-mastery in ourselves first, then reaching out in that spirit to our customers, that we’ll offer a solution that will not only be worth paying for, but more so, will be a service worth coming back to and recommending to others. That is the art of the long view. That is PKL’s cornerstone principle.”
PKL is proud to have clear direction for our future and a CEO confidently helming our boat!
April 27, 2015
Congratulations to the PKL team at the Repairable Issue Point, II MEF, Camp Lejeune North Carolina!
Here’s a quote from the US Marine Corps Captain who leads and manages the Repairable Issue Point:
“Over the past 9 months I have had the luxury of serving next to some of the finest civilians I have seen. These individuals provided consistent support to all units within II MEF and have been instrumental in my successes here at the RIP. They truly care about their work and their knowledge base has helped bridge the gap between in knowledge between our newer and older Marines. Independent, knowledgeable, focused; this team has provided an extremely valuable function to this MEF.” – Captain Joussef J. Donado USMC, Repairable Issue Point OIC.
Our team of hard-working and dedicated individuals continues to uphold the PKL Ethos “Row True” and provide our customers with superior results. Our Director of Logistics Services, Colonel John Rutherford USMC (Ret.), personally hand-delivered our letters of appreciation to each PKL employee: James Pearce, Fabian Wright, Jacqulyn Stytle, Travis Lund, and Lucy Christianson.
Our deep gratitude to you all. Keep up the great work!
February 19, 2015
San Diego, CA—PKL Services, Inc., a global provider of aerospace services, recently appointed Lieutenant General Terry G. Robling (U.S. Marine Corps Retired) as CEO. Mr. Robling’s assignment as CEO is part of a planned executive succession, with former CEO, Mr. Samuel Flores, Jr., transitioning into the Owner/Chairman role.
Terry joins PKL Services following a distinguished 38-year career with the U.S. Marine Corps, having most recently served in the Marine Corps’ largest operational command billet as the Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and retiring in August 2014 as a Lieutenant General. Previously, Terry served as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, responsible for all Marine Corps Aviation procurement, budgeting, and policy matters. He also served as the Commander, Marine Corps Forces and Marine Corps Bases, Japan, as well as the Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. Terry flew as a Naval Flight Officer in F-4 Phantom and F/A-18D aircraft, accumulating over 5,200 tactical jet hours in peacetime and in combat.
Commenting on Terry’s arrival to PKL, Owner Sam Flores stated, “PKL is very fortunate to add a leader of LtGen Robling’s talent, character, and international reputation. Terry is a true champion; a leader who has proven his excellence, time and again, in the largest arenas and under the most extreme challenges. Terry is precisely the leader to take PKL into the future.”
With a current portfolio of international and domestic contracts including aircraft maintenance and maintenance training, pilot and simulator training, logistics and supply chain management, and leadership development, PKL is well-postured for growth and expansion in the coming years.
Asked to comment on his new role as CEO, Terry reflected on PKL’s proud past while hinting also at the company’s aggressive plans for the future. “Joining PKL was the ideal fit for me personally, professionally, and for our family. We valued being part of a company with a strong ethos, vibrant leadership, a respected history, and a compelling future. PKL was that company! It is my privilege to add to the legacy created by Sam Flores, and more so, to create a new and significant chapter for PKL.”
About PKL
PKL Services is a leading global aerospace company providing customers innovative maintenance, training, and leadership solutions to governments worldwide. Please visit www.pklservices.com for more information.
January 16, 2015
In December 2014, PKL”s current CEO, Sam Flores, and incoming CEO, Terry Robling (LtGen USMC, Ret.) traveled to Mountain Home AFB in Idaho to visit our Singapore contract personnel. The trip was very informative and rewarding.
Both men were able to meet with a variety of RSAF leadership and Squadron personnel.
Here, Sam and Terry, meet with RSAF Maintenance Leadership: ME5 Lim (left), ME5 Chua (middle), and Chief Palaniappan (right) and PKL personnel in the 428 Aircraft Maintenance Unit.
Sam and Terry then visited the 428 Fighter Squadron. Upon arriving, they met with the Squadron Commander, Lt. Colonel Chiapusio (right) and the RSAF Senior Ranking Officer, Lt. Col Tham (left).
Also on their tour of the facility, they were shown the 428 FS history timeline that is painted on the wall in the entry hallway.
Overall, the visit was a success and we thank all the personnel at Mountain Home AFB for their generosity and time!
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